C1-03 Quality evaluation and development of automotive parts for the application of recycled materials to automotive interior and exterior parts
Principal Investigator
UCHIDA Hitoshi (Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.)
Research and Development Overview
This project aims to establish a circular economy within the automotive industry by increasing the usage of recycled Polypropylene (PP), which accounts for approximately 60% of plastic materials in vehicles. The research focuses on evaluating product characteristics, processing suitability, and reliability to develop high-performance recycled materials for interior and exterior components.
Progress and Achievements
FY2024 Review
Evaluations confirmed that materials with up to 50% recycled content can satisfy the "Composite Reinforced PP (2)" (JAMA standard) and meet the initial performance requirements for interior parts, such as glove boxes.
FY2025 Focus
The study expanded to exterior components, specifically "Lower Grilles," utilizing "Composite Reinforced PP (1)," which offers superior Charpy impact strength.
Evaluation Results of the Lower Grille
Drop-weight impact tests were conducted, focusing on gate and weld areas where impact resistance tends to decrease.
Drop-weight impact areas on the lower grille.
Evaluation Results for the Lower Grille
Conclusion and Next Steps
It has been concluded that recycled PP compounds meeting the JAMA "Composite Reinforced PP (1) &(2)" standards possess the potential for application in automotive interior and exterior parts.
Future Outlook
- Optimize shrinkage control to ensure assembly precision for large-scale components.
- Enhance impact resistance to consistently meet performance targets.
- Continue verification through rigorous product evaluation.